The Punjab government is reportedly asking field officials to have a close liaison with distribution companies to determine the extent of load shedding and pre-empt power riots, which it fears may sabotage general elections.
“Controlling power agitation is the top priority of the caretaker government for performing its basic duty of holding smooth elections. The other two are controlling measles and dengue,” a senior official told a local newspaper.
The Council of Common Interests (CCI) is expected to meet on April 23 on the request of caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi to find ways to reduce power load shedding that is paralysing life and affecting industrial production in the province.
Official sources said the idea to keep the divisional commissioners and DCOs alert regarding the extent of load shedding and its possible reaction was floated by the chief secretary during a recent meeting, which was also attended by heads of power distribution companies.
They said now when the provincial government was unable to control load shedding it had decided to ask all commissioners and DCOs, particularly of industrial divisions such as Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala, to make efforts to avert riots similar to last year’s. The suggested strategy was to keep a close liaison with power distribution companies to have first-hand knowledge of the extent of load shedding and then to act accordingly, officials said.
They further said the administration too was being asked to assess what had led to the uncontrolled power riots in the industrial cities last year and plan accordingly to avoid them.
Officials said the provincial government was expecting power riots in industrial cities, while it was of the view people in agriculture cities would start harvesting wheat, therefore, there would be no or less impact of load shedding on them.
“Industry and its workers are already gravely affected by load shedding. Traders too are being affected and they are agitating even in Lahore,” a senior official said.
